The Craft and Business of Songwriting (2nd Edition)

Book Description

Discover the secrets of successful songwriting with this essential guide! Cofounder of the Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase John Braheny teaches you the craft of songwriting while going behind the scenes of the music business to reveal insider secrets that will make your work stand out. Dozens of exercises, examples and anecdotes from songwriters such as Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, TLC, Lenny Kravitz and Paul McCartney will you show you how to: develop a songwriter's consciousness; overcome barriers in the creative process; write in all musical styles, and for film and TV; and skillfully manage the business of demos and contracts. This updated edition also covers online opportunities for songwriters. "A practical street-level look at today's world of songwriting ... Read and learn." - Diane Warren, six-time ASCAP Songwriter of the Year with more than 50 Top 10 hits

Customer Reviews:

Ever wondered what it would be like to write a hit song?.......2003-11-21

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to write a hit song? Perhaps you have asked yourself why do some songs become commercial successes while others end up in the dustbin?

Journalist, talk show host, teacher and consultant, John Braheny, provides us with the answers to these queries as well as many other topics in his blue-ribbon manual The Craft and Business of Songwriting-Second Edition.

Braheny was one of the founders, along with Len Chandler, of the Los Angles Songwriters Showcase. For 15 years he was intimately involved with this national non-profit organization that was dedicated to creating opportunities for discovering aspiring songwriters. As a result of this relationship, he accumulated an exceptional amount of knowledge pertaining to the business and craft of song writing. The reader is fortunate to have all of this information neatly wrapped up in a compact manual that is split into two main sections, the craft of writing songs and the business of selling and marketing songs.

Within the section dealing with the craft the author delves into such topics as creativity, inspiration, subject matter, media, listeners, lyric writing, song construction and possible collaboration with other writers. Naturally we would probably be sceptical of a book that purports to teach us how to write a song. Some would say you are born to write a song, others would disagree and say it is possible to be taught the craft. Braheny believes that you can't be taught inspiration or imagination. However, you can be taught ways to get in touch with what you have to say and how to communicate it effectively. Using this premise as a base, the book provides us with the tools that will perhaps uncover our hidden talents.

The second half of the book deals with the business features of song writing and as the author states, "writing a great song is only part of being a successful songwriter. Unsung thousands possess the talent and craft to write great songs, but without understanding the business and knowing how to protect your creations and get them heard by those who can make them successful, those songs are like orphans." Perhaps we should refer to the second half as the entrepreneurial skills needed to sell, promote and market your songs. Within this section we are introduced to such topics as protecting your songs, securing money, publishing, self- publishing, demos, marketing, Internet and record deals.

The appendix of the book provides the reader with a very comprehensive listing of songwriters' resources containing names, addresses, phone numbers, web sites and general descriptions of the various references. No doubt this inclusion will save anyone who aspires to be a songwriter a great deal of time and effort.

After reading the book are you guaranteed that you will be successful songwriter? Probably not. Unfortunately, we don't have a crystal ball indicating who will succeed and who will fail. However, at least after reading and being exposed to the elements of song writing, you will have a better understanding as to how the music industry works in relation to the songwriter, or writer/performer. As the author asserts in his introduction, "it will demystify and humanize what can often feel to a newcomer like a cold, monolithic, and impersonal industry."

The above review first appeared on the reviewer's own site

Bumpy Ride---Great Guide.......2003-01-09

So what if words and music come natural? We write the stuff down, add a tune and sing it to the world. Then what? This book, The Craft and Business of Songwriting, is a very affordable reference; and probably all you need.I'm happy it contains material that will make me wiser.Buy this or you'll miss out.

A Must Read Book for All Songwriters!.......2002-05-03

The first Edition of the book, was a must read, now this 2nd Edition, updated with new information and current song references, is also a must read for everyone that writes songs. The most complete songwriting book, for beginning songwriters to the aspiring, to even pro writers will learn from the book. I often refer to it as "The Songwriters Bible", just full of information that we need in the world of songwriting.
I have been a Nashville Songwriters Association International coordinator in Charlotte for (6) years, and do at least one activity or read a quote from a hit writer or music professional in the book at every meeting. This book is years of songwriting seminars and workshops all in one. The reader will learn just like the title says, the craft and business from someone who knows what they are talking about, and has led workshops for some of the best songwriters of all time, including the awesome Diane Warren and several other hit writers. John Braheny made a difference with hit writers, with myself, and other songwriters that I have recommended the book to in the past 14+ years of reading the first edition, and now the 2nd edition. I recomend this as the very first book for every songwriter to read and study. If you know someone who writes songs, buy the book for them, and a copy for yourself. Buy a highlighter or two, to use when reading the book. ...Doak Turner
...

Strategy and structure andlots more.......2001-01-11

One of my most basic problems when starting off as a songwriter, was the lack of background and knowledge on how to approach a new song. I am talking about your basic strategies and how to structure them into a final product. Where does one begin, what do you need to take into account, what to do first, how to approach rhyme, basic tips about melody, chords etc. I found this book to answer these type of questions in a simple and interesting way.

The author is obviously a specialist with a very good track record. He taught me how to analyse existing songs to expand my knowledge. No more do I just listen to music, I learnt the skill to expand my songwriting knowledge whilst listening to other songs on the radio or on CD.

I have learnt how to decide on a basic structure, how to approach the most important issue of finding a "hook" for your song and refining it to something useful. I have discovered that it is O.K. to rewrite songs, but I have learnt how to approach it. This book has taught me how to make songs more interesting and it has made songwriting a more interesting hobby for me.

I think the most important lesson from this book is how to grow from a songwriter that tries to express his/her own feelings to himself/herself and a few close friends, to someone who can express his deepest feelings in such a way that his song could be loved by millions and could become a commercial success. It also contain an abundace of valuable information on the industry and how to promote your music.

If I did not read this book I would have missed something for sure. If you are serious about songwriting you cannot go without this book.

Terrific book for basics of songwriting & the business.......2000-01-29

Although this book isn't as comprehensive as others in the songwriting department, it presents information in a very concise and interesting format. It also has a comprehensive section (half the book) on the BUSINESS. It's a quick, easy read and definitely worth the price. But if you want to get serious about songwriting, you'll also need a book with more theory such as WRITING MUSIC FOR HIT SONGS.

Average customer rating:

Surprisingly good
THIS IS THE BEST BOOK ON THE SUBJECT OF LYRIC/POETRY WRITING
How Lyric Writers Eat their Veggies
This book is awesome!
Obscure . . .

The Craft of Lyric Writing
Sheila Davis
Manufacturer: Writer's Digest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0898791499

Book Description

With over 100,000 books in print, this successful author and songwriter provides a complete guide to writing words for and to music, showing how to create lyrics with universal appeal, choose a song form, and more. 350 pages. 6x9.

Customer Reviews:

Surprisingly good.......2007-07-09

I've gotten over "writer's block", which was a myth to begin with. I'm writing great lyrics now, and feeling confident in my lyrics.

THIS IS THE BEST BOOK ON THE SUBJECT OF LYRIC/POETRY WRITING .......2007-01-13

If your goal is to learn all you ever need to know about lyric writing, then this is the book you must own. I have read many books on this subject, and this book is clearly, the authority on the subject. And because this book brings forth a sound foundation for meter and rhythm, it is perfect for high school and college students that are studying poetry; I should know, by reading this book, I got all A's in my English classes where poetry was taught. And being a songwriter for over 10 years, I can't say enough about what a great help this book has been to all my research in the field of popular music composition. The book is full of examples from newer pop songs, but also gives examples of Tin-Pan Alley songs that are worth noting; upon listening to the Tin-Pan-Alley songs, my taste in music has expanded.

How Lyric Writers Eat their Veggies.......2006-10-02

This is THE book to learn the tools to write excellent lyrics for pop music. It systematically explores techniques and presents successful examples of their use. Yes, it plods like a school textbook, but it is written by a successful teacher who has mastered her craft. Yes, some examples are old, but they still illustrate excellence in action. Some other books are certainly quicker and more entertaining reads, but if your goal is to write the very best lyrics you possibly can, you are only hurting yourself if you do not work carefully through this book, however long it takes. Then do it again, and keep it handy for future reference.

This book is awesome!.......2006-07-02

This book proves that Lyricism is a craft that can be taught, not a gift that you either have or have not. In reading it I have already identified which of my lyric ideas are the strongest, which ones need a lot of work, and which ones need to be thrown out all together. Every page of this book gives you more tools to work with to push your lyric writing in the right direction.
Much of the book is written about popular music (but not necessarily "pop" music) with a lot examples from older country songs and theatre songs. However, no matter what style of music you want to write, the same principles apply. If you are looking to write quality lyrics for a band, a singer, or for publication, you MUST read this book.

Obscure . . . .......2004-07-26

Maybe I'm just too young, but I became frustrated with the references to obscure songs from the roaring 20's. Most of the lyrical references in this book are before 1950. Surely there are some modern songs containing good lyrics, right? The book reads like a reference book, and is quite preachy. Not a joy to read. I suggest "88 Songwriting Wrongs, and How to Right Them".

The Craft and Business of Songwriting: A Practical Guide to Creating and Marketing Artistically and Commercially Successful Songs (Craft & Business of Songwriting)

Average customer rating:

THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO GET YOUR SONGS RIGHT!
Now I only write hit songs
Reviewing The Craft and Business
The Book Of Choice
A must-have for songwriters!

The Craft and Business of Songwriting: A Practical Guide to Creating and Marketing Artistically and Commercially Successful Songs (Craft & Business of Songwriting)
John Braheny
Manufacturer: Writers Digest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1582974667

Book Description

Combines inspirational craft tips with practical business lessons
Features examples and career advice drawn from successful artists in a variety of genres, from country to hip-hop
Perfect for beginners who want an overview of the business

Writing great songs is only half the work of becoming a successful songwriter - you also have to manage your business. Perfect for beginners and working songwriters alike, The Craft & Business of Songwriting features dozens of exercises, examples, and anecdotes from successful songwriters including Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, and Paul McCartney. With all this and more, readers will find the insider secrets they need to make them more competitive in a crowded marketplace."

Customer Reviews:

THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO GET YOUR SONGS RIGHT!.......2007-08-07

As a Billboard author of "The Musicians's Handbook: A Practical Giude to Understanding the Music Industry," an instructor at UCLA Music Business Extension and Musician's Institute, and a major label/indie recording artist, I highly recommend "The Craft and Business of Songwriting" to anyone that is serious about succeeding in the music industry. Remember: THE SONG COMES FIRST and this author wonderfully lays out the tools you need to get your songs right. Buy this book now!

Now I only write hit songs.......2007-07-31

Well, at least in my opinion.

I just received the book last night and have read about 1/4 of it. It's great so far, lot's of insight and information. After reading some of Mr. Braheny's info on his web site [...] I couldn't wait to get his book. It's more than I expected, including actual music theory but as it relates to hit songs, not just raw theory. Cool!

I'll write more after reading the entire book, but this is the best thing I've done for myself regarding song writing.

BTW, I also got Pat Pattison's book on lyric writing and barely looked at it - I don't think I'll care for it if I ever get around to reading it. I used to read Pattison's column in Home & Studio Recording mag, although I didn't recall it at the time I purchased his book, and I never cared for his column back then (in the '80s and '90s) either. Braheny's book is MUCH better - no comparison really.

Reviewing The Craft and Business .......2007-07-28

"The Craft and Business of Songwriting" has been instrumental in boosting my songwriting career by leaps and bounds. Even though I consider myself an "experienced" songwriter, there are so many things that "The Craft and Business of Songwriting" keeps me reminded and aware of. This book does that and more! It also helps me look at songwriting from a different and somewhat fresh perspective. I truly appreciate the insight on usage of the internet's many resources for marketing and promoting songwriting, which gives songwriters a perspective of the internet and web-based options to explore in helping to grow the songwriter's opportunities in cyberspace.

When it comes to songwriting, The Craft and Business of Songwriting is my bible.

Ren Ten Music, LLC

The Book Of Choice.......2007-07-26

As a teacher of songwriting for over 15 years at Austin Community college,I have found John Braheny's book, "The Craft& Business of Song Writing",to be the best work of it's kind on the market today.
Students of songwriting in or out of school can find in this text invaluable information on every level of song production both subjective and objective. This book is a gem, both beautiful and practical!
Bravo John Braheny!

Robert Skiles B.A., M.A.
Prof. of Music
Austin Community College
Austin, Tx.

A must-have for songwriters!.......2007-05-18

An excellent, comprehensive work, which far exceeds all the other songwriting books I have purchased in both content and relevance. Newly updated to accommodate today's evolving market. An essential reference for all songwriters.

Average customer rating:

The Craft of Lyric Writing
Sheila Davis
Manufacturer: F & W Publications, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OLSFX4

Average customer rating:

Craft of Lyric Writing, The
Sheila Davis
Manufacturer: Writer's Digest
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KXQG8M

Book Description

Humorous yet touching, Performing Femininity challenges traditional and feminist perspectives on gender. As a woman whose brand of feminism is suspect, Lesa Lockford places herself in the most shameful, the most abject circumstances: an image obsessed weight-watcher, an exotic dancer, and a theatrical performer. By exposing herself to the abject, she reclaims her body's symbolic value from society. This experimental autoethnography provides a provocative model to the ethnographer and rewards the student of gender studies with a rare perspective.

Customer Reviews:

positive feminism.......2005-04-16

What is ethical and/or moral when it comes to sexuality? Who determines this?

Is sex performance/genre any more or less ethical than other performance style? Is it less or more powerful?

Why is Western society so uncomfortable with its own sexual expression and choices?

Desire is desire is desire...the hierarchy of desire...
...at the top, of course is the most accepted form, heterosexual monogamous coupling. Below this and in declining order resides queer desire, desire expressed in S/M, masturbation, desire aided by pornography or sex toys, promiscuous desire or more than one partner at a time, desire for partners from different generations, and desire expressed or fulfilled via commercial sex (Lockford 61).

Lesa Lockford explores the physiological, psychological, sexual, and social feminine identity today's Western culture within her dissertation. Lockford interweaves humorous stories with first hand accounts in an academic method known as autoethnography, which breaches the line between feminist verses patriarchal points of view. She explores the social and cultural paradigms of feminine behavior as a result of women's physiology, and sexuality.

"To be a feminist, one has first to become one". Commonly referred to as "consciousness raising," this process of profound personal transformation" entails self-reflexivity and the development of solidarity with other women [regardless of sex or gender]...this transformative experience "goes far beyond the sphere of human activity we regard ordinarily as `political'": indeed it manifests itself in everyday performances of self: In the course of undergoing the transformation to which I refer, the feminist changes her behavior: She makes new friends: she responds differently to people and events; her habits of consumption change; sometimes she alters her living arrangements or, more dramatically, her whole style of life. Becoming a feminist then is the embodying of the maxim "the personal is political" (Lockford 32).

The social implications and expectancies constructed by our predominantly patriarchal and sexually inhibited culture renders women sensitive to issues of appearance, identity, and sexual confidence. She explores the most baring of feminine issues: from the humbling system of weight loss...to the allure of make-up and a girl stuffing her bra...to the public politeness of sexless/fearing academic circles... to the independence of a confident stripper and exploration of herself as a performance artist.

The subordination of women by men is pervasive, that it orders the relationship of the sexes in every area of life, that a sexual politics of domination is as much in evidence in traditionally private spheres of the family, ordinary social life, and sexuality as in the things we do in the traditionally public spheres of government and the economy. The belief that the things we do in the bosom of the family or in bed are either "natural" or else a function of the personal idiosyncrasies of private individuals is held to be an "ideological curtain that conceals the reality of women's systematic oppression. (Lockford 32-3)

By society's everyday actions and words, women are dictated on how they should behave: by what we have been taught and how we are expected to behave, determines our power and the way we are perceived in society and our culture. When a woman undermines the primary social power's expectations, she becomes an outcast, a renegade, a delicious forbidden fruit.

The persuasiveness of objectification...time to start the music...
Lockford explores how "we women experience our agency and constitute our subjectivity given the persuasiveness of objectification" (x). The most extreme objectification situation she discovers and experiments with herself is inside sexual performance. She then discovers that society underestimates the true power of the sexual performance, and that the labels of objectification are misplaced. She then questions society itself and the labels we place upon ourselves as a result of other's expectations and "moral" implications.
Claiming space and giving voice to our perspectives was and is a vital touchstone for the development of empowered being and for revalorizing what traditionally has been considered important in the world (x).

I think we are approaching a time where the emphasis of the individual is becoming the forefront of intellectual and social accpetance. Perhaps this makes me idealistic, a liberal feminist, etc. I choose individualism, and this book definitely breaks the ice on feminist theory and sexual performance.

The Astromundi Cluster (Spelljammer Game Accessory 1087)
Average customer rating:
The Astromundi Cluster (Spelljammer Game Accessory 1087)
Sam Witt
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Spelljammer: The Astromundi Cluster: The Astrogator's Guide
Average customer rating:
Spelljammer: The Astromundi Cluster: The Astrogator's Guide
n/a
Manufacturer: TSR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000R96NA0

Book Description

Unlike other books on JavaScript, which explain how to write JavaScript programs for the Web, Extending Acrobat Forms with JavaScript is the first and only book to explain how to use JavaScript to create sophisticated, interactive documents in Adobe Acrobat. Acrobat expert John Deubert teaches JavaScript programming basics in the context of carrying out specific, useful tasks in Acrobat. For example, you'll learn how to manipulate Acrobat with JavaScript to perform calculations, retrieve data from a database, process form data, and more. And each tutorial is broken down into small, manageable chunks so as not to overwhelm you with long blocks of code. A one-of-a kind book, Extending Acrobat Forms with JavaScript is a great resource for anyone who wants to gain more control over Adobe's extremely popular Acrobat software.

Customer Reviews:

Too old.......2007-02-01

It's made for the Macintosh. Unfortunately, the book isn't available as an updated version for the newest Adobe Professional. The examples are quite simple.

Old, But Still Very Relevant.......2006-11-28

I had no prior working knowledge of javascript and I wanted to make my Acrobat forms more functional. This book served the purpose.
The book is a little dated, but still very relevant. Things have changed with the release of Acrobat 8, but the information in the book is still valuable. The book gives step-by-steps on how to do things in previous versions, but if you are willing to look around, you can find the screens referred to in Acrobat 8. With that in mind, I had to give the book a five star rating, since I can't fault the author on anything in the book.
I am looking forward to books this good written for Acrobat 8.

A good reference for basic techniques.......2005-10-24

I was looking for some more advanced features than were offered, but it looks like it will be helpful to me moving forward. I build alot of forms in Adobe Acrobat. If you have never done javascript in Acrobat, or have intermediate knowledge, it may be a helpfull book for you.

Great Book!.......2005-04-25

I love this book! I am a professional graphic designer that does not know how to write any JavaScript. I just wanted to be able to create more dynamic pdf files. The author did a great job explaining the JavaScript used in this book in a way that non programmers can grasp!

Mr. Deubert was also very gracious in helping me customize one of the scripts in his book to work for a specific project I had. He stands behind his product!

I recommend this to anyone that is a non programmer looking to learn how to use JavaScript with Acrobat.

A Great Step for Javascript Beginners.......2004-10-02

I have been making forms in Acrobat since version 3.0, and have a background in Dbase III, Foxpro, Visual Basic .NET, and SQL 2000. However, I never learned Javascript formally or in-depth.

This book was an excellent springboard to a good working knowledge of JavaScript, especially relating to Acrobat. The chapters are broken down by functionality and increase in complexity, and each has at least one project that the author will guide you step-by-step (you can download the PDF's from the author's website). The book was edited very well, I found only one mistake (a typo) after reading the book almost page for page. What makes this an outstanding book is the clarity of the examples and explanations the author has so obviously spent much time on to help us "poor newbies".

My focus was how to get started interacting with databases (SQL or Access), and while the first Chapter (16) was review for people familiar with databases, Chapter 17 really got me started. The project in the book gives the basics -- to go beyond, you need the following resources: the Acrobat JavaScript Scripting Reference and the Scripting Guide (...).

Developers know that the devil is in the detail, so once I got past the database interface hurdle, the other chapters were just as useful to put the necessary finishing touches on my project.

Here's the bottom line: If you are already advanced in your knowledge of JavaScript, this isn't your book! You know enough to pick up the Acrobat JavaScript Reference and figure it out. If you're just starting out or need to know, in detail, what capabilities Acrobat and JavaScript can give you for an IT solution, this book is an excellent resource.

One last thing that makes the author of the book outstanding: He has a free newsletter for those looking for better ways of utilizing Acrobat (...)

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